About Happy Hounds

Fostering Harmony between Dogs and their Guardians for over 20 years.

Private IN-HOME Dog Training in Queens and Long Island

Ritsa Galitsis, CPDT-KA, Owner/Trainer

I’ve always had a love for animals, and dogs in particular. In 1996, I became a volunteer at a local animal shelter, where I began by walking and socializing dogs to help them become more adoptable. I also started working with a dog trainer there, who used mostly traditional training methods. Then I was asked to work with a group of developmentally challenged teenagers, who loved dogs and wanted to be involved with them in any way they could. I knew that traditional methods would not work best for these kids, and I sought to find a ‘friendlier’ alternative. That’s when I learned more about Positive Reinforcement training methods, and I haven’t looked back since

Our love for – and bond with – our dogs sometimes allows us to forget that they are a different species, with different methods of communication, and a different view of the world. And, they don’t speak English! We wind up frustrated and our dogs more confused than ever, and feeling like they can’t be successful.

Let’s teach your dog the skills they need in a clear, consistent, fun way, taking into account the unique way that dogs learn and communicate, and ultimately, setting you both up to succeed.

My Teachers

My Training Philosophy

Positive Reinforcement training is a people-friendly, dog-friendly method of training that rewards behavior and strengthens the bond and relationship between humans and their dogs. It helps you communicate with your dog through innovative, humane techniques that are both effective and fun. You build a stronger bond and your dog learns to look to you as a BENEVOLENT LEADER AND A TRUSTED FRIEND.

Why Positive Reinforcement?

Positive Reinforcement training works by teaching rather than correcting first, by taking into account the way that dogs learn and communicate, and ultimately, setting up both dogs and humans to succeed. And it’s fun!

Positive reinforcement:

Teaches skills while setting boundaries and rules in a clear and consistent manner – teaching your dog desirable behaviors to replace the problem behaviors that can be so frustrating.
Does not use physical force, intimidation, fear tactics, or electric shock collars.

Traditional training methods:

Training that relies on correction, such as shock collars, prong collars, and choke chains, can stop unwanted behaviors, but doesn’t teach your dog what you’d like them to do instead. Sometimes people make the mistake of calling the moment when something unpleasant stops positive reinforcement. It’s not. For example, some shock collar trainers pretend that when the electric shock stops, it is rewarding for the dog. It is not. Relief is not the same as a reward.

It’s worth being alert to the differences between positive reinforcement-based training and traditional training methods because there are many words used in dog training and there’s a lot of erroneous dog training information on the internet.

Because there is no regulation of dog trainers, this is something dog owners need to be aware of.

If you are interested in learning more, the following links are from the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior, The Association of Professional Dog Trainers and Cattle Dog Publishing (Dr. Sophia Yin) .